EPCAR Scandal: Danger Time for Small Associations

RJ Webb found himself in a difficult situation when he became the president of the East Polk County Realtors Association in 2021. When he requested financial documents, the association's CEO refused to provide them.

This led to a year-long battle filled with accusations, extortion attempts, and ultimately a cautionary tale about how vulnerable small member associations in America can be to theft.

On November 21, Polk County Sheriff **Grady Judd** announced that 53-year-old Jennifer Garula-Mers has been charged with **over $81,000** in grand theft. The allegations have put the association in “financial distress,” forcing it to consider merging with another organization for survival.

“She needs to stay in jail,” Judd remarked, labeling Garula-Mers a “thief” and a “fraud.”

Garula-Mers began engaging in financial misconduct just months after being hired as CEO of EPCAR in 2020. The theft continued until she was fired in **August 2024**.

Garula-Mers awarded herself unauthorized salary increases totaling $43,105.86, raising her overall salary to **$99,472**. She also issued herself unauthorized bonuses worth $12,500 and cashed checks totaling $20,348.89 for additional salary.

Additionally, EPCAR’s credit card was used for personal gain; detectives discovered $3,267.51 in non-business-related expenses. In total, the investigation documented losses amounting to $81,453.92.

When Webb expressed his concerns about financial irregularities during his presidency, the EPCAR board supported Garula-Mers and branded Webb as a troublemaker.

Things began to take a dark turn when Webb filed a lawsuit to stop the losses. Webb and his father received threatening phone calls from an individual identifying himself as “Anthony from Chicago.” A person named David Stachowiak was arrested as a 'co-suspect' hired by Garula-Mers and is facing multiple charges.

Garula-Mers was arrested on *November 20, 2025* by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office and is being prosecuted for a second-degree felony.

Unfortunately, the EPCAR case is not an isolated incident. Small nonprofit organizations and professional associations are vulnerable to fraud and embezzlement. According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, nonprofits typically lose an average of **$76,000**, compared to **$60,000** in 2020.

Small associations often leave financial transactions such as payments, reimbursements, and event budgets under the control of a single manager. However, this practice can lead to financial instability, misconduct, and fraud.

Simple measures can be taken to prevent financial abuses. Key steps include separating financial duties, requiring two authorized signatures, conducting regular audits, and tracking expenditures. These measures will not only help prevent fraud but also enhance financial transparency.

Garula-Mers’ actions highlight the betrayal of trust and expose systemic weaknesses in the operations of small member associations. The EPCAR situation should serve as a wake-up call for everyone; the risks are real, the costs of errors are significant, and prevention is much cheaper than recovery.